HobbsDailyReport.com
MAIDEN – Burke County Post 21 opened an early five-run lead en route to beating Maiden 6-3 on Saturday night, opening a best-of-5 Area IV American Legion baseball with a victory over the Salamanders.
Burke County (7-11) had lost three straight and six of eight coming in but will now go for a two-game lead when Maiden Post 240 (15-9) visits Shuey Field in Morganton for a 7 p.m. game on Sunday.
Game 3 will be Monday night at 7 p.m. at Maiden High.
McDowell High products sparked Burke County’s first-game win, with winning pitcher Nathan Watkins throwing six innings. He gave up seven hits, three earned runs, walked one and struck out six.
Burke County lead 1-0 after scoring a run in the second inning and 3-0 when it added two runs in the third inning.
Ryan Murdock (McDowell), who had two hits, had a stolen base and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring in the third inning. Watkins, who reached on an infield error, scored on a single by Dylan Poplin (McDowell).
Burke County added two runs in the fourth inning, stretching its lead to 5-0. Johnny Shoemaker (East Burke) drove in Watkins, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
A single by Kell Smith (McDowell) single in the seventh inning scored Brycen Seymore (McDowell), who had walked and advanced twice on wild pitches.
T.J. Rasar (Bandys) took the loss for Maiden, going four innings. He gave up eight hits, five runs (three earned) walked two and struck out four.
Josh Maddux relieved Watkins and picked up a save for Burke County.
Dylan Abernathy (Maiden) and Jacob Ellis (Bandys) each had two hits for the Salamanders, who had eight.
SALAMANDERS ROSTER
No./Name/Class/Post./School
1, Bain Sipe, sophomore, INF-RHP, Maiden
2, Dylan Abernathy, sophomore, OF-RHP, Maiden
3, Jacob Cauble, freshman, INF-RHP, Maiden
4, Jay Sipe, senior, INF, Maiden
5, Grayson Brown, junior, INF, Maiden
6, Austin Hoyle, freshman, C, Maiden
7, Ryan Lyda, junior, OF-LHP, Bandys*
8, Ross Fowler, sophomore, RHP, Maiden
9, Cy Spencer, junior, INF-OF-RHP, Bandys
10, Bryson Ledford, senior, RHP-OF-INF, Maiden
11, Ty Williams, freshman, OF, Berea College
12, Taylor Tibbs, freshman, INF, Bluefield State
20, Spencer Ledford, sophomore, INF-RHP, Bandys
21, Noah Caldwell, junior, RHP, Bandys
22, Drew Huffman, sophomore, INF-RHP, Maiden
23, Josh Frye, senior, OF-RHP, Statesville Christian
24, Jacob Ellis, junior, C, Bandys
26, Will Harbinson, junior, 1B, Maiden
30, Tyler Laws, senior, RHP-1B, Statesville Christian
31, Mac Beam, senior, OF-INF-RHP, Bandys
32, Jarrett Isaac, junior, OF-INF, Maiden
34, Brantley Durham, senior, C-INF, Newton-Conover
40, T.J. Rasar, senior, RHP, Bandys
44, Peyton Laney, sophomore, 1B-RHP, Bandys
*–inactive (injury)
Head coach: David Williams; Assistant coaches: Frank Porter, Ryan Pendley, Dustin Hull, Jason DeHart; AD: David Williams Sr.
Team sponsor: Carolina Glove & Safety.